Celebration of Easter in the SSCC Lay Community of
Belén (Lima, Peru)

by Lida F.
Solimano (Coordinator of the community)

"... Enjoy
the wonder and amazement of Easter ..."
(Pope Francis)

Greetings to all
the ss.cc. family with the joy and the bliss of the Risen Lord!

In preparation
for Easter, on Holy Thursday at 5
pm, as a special event, we celebrated a Jewish
Passover with the other SSCC lay communities at the Recoleta
School. It was a new experience for many, and quite rich. After all that, we
went to the chapel of Recoleta School where we attended the celebration of the Liturgy
of Holy Thursday, and where we did the Adoration.

On Good Friday, members of lay communities
met at the house of Belén, where our community hosted them. There was a
reflection about four Stations of the Via Crucis.

On Holy Saturday the community remained in
reflection and meditation. On Sunday,
the Lord's Resurrection day, each of us participated in family at the Mass in
their respective parishes with the joy and the bliss of Easter of Resurrection.

And as an added
joy, the Lord reserved for us the joy of sharing a lunch in our community the Monday of the Octave of Easter. Special
guests were Sisters Valeria Gomes dos Santos (Provincial Superior), Graciela
Zúñiga (advisor to the community) and Eleanor Chavez (Provincial Treasurer).

At all times, the
joy of Easter was evident amid a festive atmosphere, full of the joy and
simplicity that characterize the Sacred Hearts family.

Thanks to our
dear sisters, who in the midst of their work stopped to visit with us and share
this time of Easter Monday, the April 6, 2015.

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The
SSCC Secular Branch of Lima has organized a Day of Formation for the SSCC lay family. It takes place on
Saturday, April 18. The theme: The Synod on the Family. There will be a contribution to the
discussion from the Superior General, Javier
Álvarez-Ossorio, through Skype.

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Open
Meeting of the SSCC Secular Branch in Montgeron

On Tuesday,
March 24, 2015, the founding trio (André,
Charles and Marie-Agnès) eagerly awaited those invited to an inaugural meeting,
carefully prepared with the sscc brother who accompanies the group, Father André Mark sscc. Recall that the
group of Paris decided it would be better to found a new lay community ss.cc.
here in Montgeron. But at least five members were required. We selected fifteen
people involved in the church and who could be in tune with the charism of the
Congregation.

Six guests
arrived at 18 pm. From the beginning, good conversations were struck up. Some already
knew each other. They are from Montgeron, Yerres and Crosne, cities that make
up our pastoral sector. The ages range from 57-76 years. Most are retired. To
be noted was the presence of two couples.

There were other
people who were interested. However, 6 pm was too early, given their other appointments. Conversely, since we wanted to allow the
presence of a couple we did not hesitate to review our program and change the
time.

A word of welcome from the coordinator
gave attendees an overview of who we are and of the richness offered by the
Congregation.

Then, each one
highlighted their motivations,
referring to the pamphlet (on the Secular Branch), to the invitation letter or
to the experience of the "old ones", who were the last to speak:
resources for living the faith (3 times); to have not a lamp more, but the oil
for the lamps we have; love; sharing the spiritual life (3 times); discernment
and fraternal correction; incarnation of God's love; to live the attitudes and
choices of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Love ... The links of friendship have also played a part in the
desire to come.

The intervention
of Father André motivated the group.
There was at first a moment of explanation followed by questions and answers.
André traced, in an interesting way, the origins of the Congregation, the ideas
of the Founders in their historical context, the sending of the first
missionaries, the story of the first foundations in France and abroad, the
Constitutions with what the brothers and sisters have in common and what is different,
the presence of the laity from the beginning, the rebirth with Vatican II ...
He illustrated all that with the figures of Father Damien (whom some knew
because of the "Gospel" played by a youth group here when Damien was beatified),
Fr. Eustaquio, Fr. D’Elbée (and his book "Believe in Love"), the
image of Our Lady of Peace. He also talked about the acquisition of the house in
Montgeron.

A woman from
Poitou knew the "Grand'Maison" (Poitiers), another person knew the
house in Châteaudun, another the cemetery of Picpus .

Father André, of
course, explained about the Perpetual
Adoration and the evolution of its practice. We put it into practice by
going to the chapel, where the new ones were introduced easily, as animated by
Fr. André.

By way of exception,
we put dinner at the end, to
facilitate the departure of those who needed to leave early. However, conversations continued until 22 h. During
dinner, Father André sparked conversations that helped us to know each other better.
Our title of "brotherhood" that evening was not overrated!

The Holy Spirit has heard us because the meeting
went really well and predicts a bright future for the SSCC lay community of
Montgeron. Deo Gratias!